Warragamba Dam in Sydney Expected to Spill, Residents Told to Stay at Home

Sieeka Khan, Tech Times 20 March 2021, 10:03 am

The Warragamba Dam in Sydney, Australia, is predicted to spill on the afternoon of Mar. 20 and residents in western suburbs could be flooded as dangerous levels of rain continue to falls.

Warragamba Dam spill

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the residents that parts of western Syndey are at risk of flooding as the dam is expected to spill, as reported by ABC News.

BOM flood operations specialist Justin Robinson told the reporters of Today Australia that they are expecting Warragamba Dam to spill. He said that waters from the spill would combine with river flows from the Upper Nepean and the Grose River, as well as the local tributaries including South Creek.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told the reporters that emergency services were preparing for a one-in-five, a one-in-10 or a one-in-20 year event. She asked the residents in the area to be on high alert and to monitor the government websites in case a call to evacuate is issued.

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Berejiklian stated that the window of evacuation is often not a big one depending on where you live. She said that the SES was doing its best to predict what may happen in the next few hours and was trying to avoid residents being evacuated at night.

Robinson said the timing of the dam spill would depend on which areas of the catchment received the heaviest rainfall and what time they receive the rainfall.

There could be some minor flooding at Penrith and North Richmond and moderate flooding may develop overnight.

Robinson also said that their current expectations were around the moderate level but they are definitely highlighting to the community that major flooding is possible, according to 7News Australia.

Robinson added that for those in the Greater Sydney area, the biggest concern for both the Bureau and nearby communities, is the potential for very significant flooding across the Hawkesbury-Nepean River.

There were concerns for all suburbs along the Nepean River but in particular Penrith and Windsor that may get can get very deep levels of flooding.

The Bureau issued a flood warning and that was updated a few minutes after. The current warning is basically suggesting that they possibly might see moderate to major flooding.

Residents warned of flooding

The Warragamba Dam is close to full after Sydney's recent rain. The water level of the dam will also depend on how the rainfall unfolds over the next 24 hours, according to Yahoo News.

However, looking at the current forecast, they are thinking that it might be similar to the February 2020 event, which had very significant impacts on the community, especially to two bridges, the North Richmond and Windsor.

Robinson also stated that Warragamba Dam had spilled back in 2013 and in 2016, but the last significant spill was in August 1990. He added that the public need to stay updated with the warnings and also the messages from the emergency services.

A BOM spokeswoman said that Mar. 20 would be the wettest day in Sydney and such conditions are expected to continue on Mar. 21.

The rain should then shift to the lower Blue Mountains and highlands of the Illawarra, with rainfall expected over the Riverina and inland areas on Mar. 22 and Mar. 23.

Residents of Sydney have been advised to stay home and the Parramatta River is already overflowing, with people taking to social media to share photos of flooding.